DISTRIBUTION:

Hyperchiria azteca (wingspan: males: 56-65mm; females: 65-75mm // forewing length: males: 31-33mm; females: 33-36mm) flies in
southern Mexico: Guerrero; Oaxaca; Chiapas: (Bonampak (400m) BW); Veracruz; (100-1385m).

It might also fly in Belize and northern Guatemala.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are probably at least three generations per year with peak flights in May-June-July, September, and probably other months.

Larvae of Hyperchiria azteca probably will eat Anacardium, Fagus, Laburnum and Robinia pseudoacacia.

Bernhard Wenczel reports success rearing them on oak.

Hyperchiria azteca male, Mexico,
courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt

Visit the Hyperchiria nausica Group to see a comparison plate covering the eleven species listed by Brechlin and Meister, 2013, as belonging to the Hyperchiria nausica Group, which has species where the iris of the hindwing ocellus is orange.

Hyperchiria azteca male, reared on oak, 400m
Bonampak, Chiapas, Mexico, courtesy Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use well-developed antennae to seek out females which scent at in the early morning at first light in captivity. The pair remains coupled sometimdes for only a couple hours (JV).

Hyperchiria azteca female, Mexico courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Hyperchiria azteca female, reared on oak, 400m
Bonampak, Chiapas, Mexico, courtesy Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

Hyperchiria azteca female, reared on oak, 400m
Bonampak, Chiapas, Mexico, courtesy Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

Hyperchiria azteca female, Las Cuevas, Cayo, Belize,
79mm, courtesy of Art Gilbert and Norm Smith.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Typical of species in the Genus Hyperchiria and the Subfamily Hemileucinae, the larvae are armed with urticating spines.

Hyperchiria azteca first instars on Robina pseudoacacia,
Mexico, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Hyperchiria azteca second instars on Robina pseudoacacia,
Mexico, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Hyperchiria azteca third instars on Robina pseudoacacia,
Mexico, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Hyperchiria azteca fifth instars on Robina pseudoacacia,
Mexico, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Hyperchiria azteca sixth-seventh instars on Robina pseudoacacia,
Mexico, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Hyperchiria azteca seventh instar on Robina pseudoacacia,
Mexico, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Hyperchiria azteca seventh instar on Robina pseudoacacia,
Mexico, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Hyperchiria azteca seventh instar on Robina pseudoacacia,
Mexico, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Hyperchiria azteca seventh instar, reared on oak, 400m
Bonampak, Chiapas, Mexico, courtesy Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Anacardium Fagus Laburnum Quercus (BW) Robinia pseudoacacia .....

Cashew Beech Bean tree Oak Black locust/False acacia

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Hyperchiria azteca male, 61mm, Veracruz, Mexico,
on my home computer only.

Hyperchiria azteca male, 56mm, Mexico,
on my home computer only.

Hyperchiria azteca male, 58mm, Mexico,
on my home computer only.

Hyperchiria azteca female, 79mm, Chiapas, Mexico,
Entomo Satsphingia Jahrgang 3, Heft 5, 18.11, 2010; on my home computer only.